Visa Poker Sites

How to Deposit and Play Legal Poker with Your Visa Card

Visa has the biggest financial network, settling millions of transactions daily around the world. Almost all poker sites legally accept Visa credit, debit or prepaid cards. What you will find is that some countries – notably the US and Canada – restrict the use of these cards if they know that the money is going to a poker site.

This page gives you all you need to know to play legal poker online with Visa card payments. First below I have covered the law in relation to this deposit option. After that are some pros and cons, which will help you to decide whether this is the right method for you. Finally, a practical guide of the steps needed to make that first online poker deposit with Visa.

Are Visa Poker Payments Legal?

Law depends on where you are located. For much of the world, poker is regulated and Visa deposits are the most commonly used payment method. In the USA, many people incorrectly think that playing online poker is illegal. There is no federal law, and very few state laws, which actively ban real money online poker. For the individual player, depositing at offshore sites with Visa is absolutely legal. Since it is illegal for the banks to knowingly fulfil these financial transactions, they will try to block the offshore payments. Sometimes they succeed, though the majority of the time you will get your deposit through.

Canada is affected by the US poker laws via their overzealous banks. To avoid issues with their US branches, many banks block Visa card poker deposits even though these are expressly legal north of the boarder.

Fortunately for both US and Canadian poker fans, there are plenty of alternative methods to get your money on board. These include prepaid Visa cards, Bitcoin, money transfer – and in Canada, Interac.

Pros and Cons of Visa Poker Site Deposits

The main benefit of Visa for your poker payments is that it is quick and easy. Since most people have a card (either debit or credit), then there is no need to sign up with a 3rd party system. Depositing with Visa works the same as making any online purchase in most countries. The fees for making these deposits are usually covered by the poker sites.

In addition to the restrictions for US and Canadian players, there is one other disadvantage to using this method. It is not always available for withdrawals. In the case of US players, no withdrawals are possible back onto a Visa card. The main alternative is to use a paper check, which some sites will have couriered to your door. Worldwide, withdrawals are sometimes available – where these are not a local bank transfer is a good substitute.

How to Go About Depositing with Your Visa Card

Of all the poker deposit options, Visa (and other credit cards) are the easiest to use. Making a poker deposit is just about the same as buying anything online.

You’ll need to have selected your poker site, and registered a player account first. This is the right time to check that your site is not rogue, and to make sure you are getting the best poker bonus. Some sites have bonus codes to claim their welcome offers.

Next, you’ll need to head to the cashier, which all sites make super-easy to find! Choose Visa and you will see a form that asks for the following information: Name (as printed on the card), long card number, ccv (security) number, expiration date.

You can then enter the amount you wish to deposit, along with any bonus code.

Once you click the ‘send’ or ‘deposit’ button, the site will attempt to clear your funds. Worldwide this is a simple security clearance, and the money will usually be in your poker account within seconds. In the US or Canada, your site will be trying different financial gateways. You will usually find out in under a minute whether your payment has been blocked by your bank, or accepted.

The final section below covers what to do if your Visa card deposit gets blocked.

Alternatives to Visa Poker Site Payments

US and Canadian players can get some solid help in making deposits from support staff at the main poker sites. These agents often have many years of experience in helping players get their money onboard.

Sometimes, the same Visa card which just got declined will work later in the day. This is all part of the ‘cat and mouse’ game that the poker sites play with the banks. If not then you can buy a prepaid Visa card from a gas station. Ask an agent which brands are working at the moment. Other alternative payment options include Bitcoin, which is becoming the number one choice for the offshore poker sites – or using money transfer companies such as Western Union.